Zagreb native at Helsinki's goal warns Rijeka
Matej Marković, the 30-year-old goalkeeper of Finland's most decorated club, reveals how Finns play, what weather awaits Rijeka in Tampere, and why Ilves should not be underestimated.
Matej Marković, the 30-year-old goalkeeper of Finland's most decorated club, reveals how Finns play, what weather awaits Rijeka in Tampere, and why Ilves should not be underestimated.
Rijeka's footballers will chase a historic, jubilee 50th victory in European competitions on Thursday in Tampere, Finland. The return leg of the third qualifying round of the Conference League against Ilves (1:0 from the first match) is also the Whites' first away game in Finland in club history. While Matjaž Kek's team prepares for the clash on the artificial turf of Tammelan Stadion, a warning comes from Helsinki, where 30-year-old Zagreb native Matej Marković has been living and playing since February.
Marković, the goalkeeper of Finland's most decorated club HJK Helsinki, knows well the opponent Rijeka is fighting to advance past in the play-off. His club has already played against Ilves this season in the league and the cup, and Marković sends a clear signal from Rujevica in an interview with Novi list.
"I haven't played in Tampere yet; we're visiting there at the end of the month. But we've played them at home in the league and the Finnish Cup, where we knocked them out in the semifinals. Rijeka faces a tough away game on artificial turf. However, it will be played in a nice setting; the stadium is one of the three best in Finland. But Rijeka has quality and should confirm their passage. They need to prepare well and play the match properly, without underestimating," said Marković.
The Finnish club, founded back in 1931, has won one league title (1983) and four national cups (1979, 1990, 2019, 2023) in its history. In European appearances so far, they have played 27 matches with a modest record of six wins, five draws, and as many as 15 losses. However, Marković points out that the hosts will be maximally motivated.
"For Ilves, this match is 'all in.' They've started the season quite poorly. They don't have a bad team; they're usually among the top five or six teams in the league, but this time they haven't had a run of good games. However, European matches are different; players get motivated. They want to get into Europe because it saves their season. They have nothing to lose," Marković analyzed.
The Zagreb native also described the style of play that most Finnish clubs favor, which could surprise Rijeka. "Finns like to play more dynamically, they like build-up and a lot of short passes out from the back; about 70 percent of teams play that way, even at the cost of mistakes. Different football is played in Finland than in our region. The HNL is certainly of higher quality, but Finnish clubs are quite tricky for everyone in Europe. Everyone comes thinking Finns have no clue, but football is played here too. There are players and quality here; they play on artificial turf, which not everyone is used to, where the ball bounces a bit differently. A little underestimation and a shock happens," Marković warns.
As an example, he cited Inter Turku, who knocked out Turkey's Basaksehir in the second qualifying round and beat Sarajevo, while KuPS and Helsinki regularly compete in European competitions. "That's why Rijeka must enter the match without underestimating, do the job properly, score an early goal, and immediately extinguish Ilves' hope that they can achieve something," he added.
Marković followed the first leg at Rujevica, where Rijeka won 1:0 with a goal from Niko Janković in the 16th minute, despite firing 26 shots, 14 of which were on target. "Rijeka should have won by a bigger margin and been calmer; as it is, everything is open for the return leg, a different match than the one at Rujevica," he commented.
His Helsinki also plays a Conference League return leg on Thursday, visiting Scotland's Motherwell after a 1:1 draw in the first leg. If they advance, they'll face Germany's Freiburg.
For Rijeka, this is the 46th European match under Matjaž Kek, who could secure his 20th win on the Whites' bench. Success would also mean the club's 50th victory in all UEFA competitions. Toni Fruk will make his 30th European appearance (2,325 minutes), and Niko Janković could become the club's all-time top assist provider in Europe.
If Rijeka gets past Ilves, they will most likely face Denmark's Midtjylland in the play-off, who beat Ireland's Bohemians 2:0 in the first leg.
